What does quickest mean?
Quickest is the superlative form of quick and is used to identify the person, thing, route, or method that has the greatest speed or takes the least time. For example, a train may be the quickest way to reach a city, while a colleague may be the quickest to respond to a question. The word can also imply efficiency: “the quickest solution” is not necessarily the fastest-moving solution, but the one that gets the job done with the least delay or effort. In ordinary use, quickest is common and neutral, appearing in both formal and informal English. It is especially useful when comparing alternatives by duration, distance, or speed, making it a natural choice for travel advice, sports reports, problem-solving, and everyday decisions.
Moving or doing something with the greatest speed; taking the least time.
"The quickest train leaves at noon."
This is the standard superlative of quick and is used when comparing people, actions, vehicles, or methods.
Offering the shortest or most time-saving route, method, or solution.
"We need the quickest repair, not necessarily the cheapest one."
This extended sense is common in expressions such as “the quickest way” and “the quickest solution.”
Quickest is the superlative of quick, turning a simple speed comparison into a sharp choice: the fastest or shortest option.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does quickest come from?
The word comes from Middle English quik, meaning alive, brisk, or rapid, which developed from Old English cwic, originally meaning alive. Through its long association with living, energetic movement, quick came to mean fast or prompt. The superlative quickest is therefore a regular English form, while words such as quicken and quicksilver share the same historical root.
Related word forms
How quickest is actually used
Usually used in comparisons involving speed, duration, or efficiency. In the sense of a method or route, it can mean the most direct or time-saving option, not necessarily the one involving the greatest speed.